Blog

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are
enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various
temptations.
—James 1:2

I’m sure you know people with amazing stories of the way God has worked
in their lives. I always love to hear a great testimony, but I also know
that behind every extraordinary account of someone’s life lies some
kind of challenge or difficulty. No one ever has a testimony without a
test.

We must pass all kinds of tests as we go through our lives, and passing
them is part of never giving up. It’s vital for us to understand the
important role that tests and trials play in our lives, because
understanding them helps us endure them and actually be strengthened by
them. Everything God permits us to go through will ultimately be good
for us—no matter how much it hurts, how unfair it is, or how difficult
it is.

When we encounter tests and trials, if we will embrace them and refuse
to run from them, we will learn some lessons that will help us in the
future and make us stronger.

One reason we must go through trials is to test our quality (1 Pet.
4:12). Often, we find ourselves wishing we had the faith of Sister
so-and- so or Brother so-and-so. I can assure you, if they have a strong
and vibrant faith, they did not develop it easily. Just as muscles are
strengthened through exercise, firm faith comes from the furnace of
affliction.

Sometimes people say to me, “Oh, I wish I had the kind of ministry you
have, Joyce.” Well, I did not get it by wishing. These people didn’t see
when I was feeling I couldn’t hold on one more second, begging God to
help me to not quit or give up. They don’t know the tests and trials
I’ve faced along the way.

No one who does anything worthwhile for God has traveled an easy road.
Doing great things for God requires character, and character is
developed by passing life’s tests and staying faithful to Him through
the trials.

Trust in Him: God has a unique plan for your life.
Trust Him when you go through tests, knowing that they are strengthening
and preparing you for the great things He has planned specifically for
you.